In two day’s time Newcastle ’s Winter Carnival Parade returns to ring in the New Year in style – with scary monsters, a cauldron of fire, and dancing bears with giant claws stalking the streets of Newcastle to frighten parents and delight children of all ages.

The annual parade will start at Monument from 4.30pm, then leave for Newcastle Civic Centre at 5.15pm via Northumberland Street for the fireworks finale at Newcastle Civic Centre at 6pm.

Buses will be running to their Christmas and New Year timetables, but on New Year’s Eve some bus stops may be temporarily relocated around Eldon Square and Haymarket area due to road closures for the parade,

All services in the region will finish early on New Year’s Eve and passengers should check with the operator for details of last buses.

Here is a list of the confirmed diversions on Thursday December 31:

Stagecoach diversions

The Haymarket area (top end of Percy Street, St Mary’s Place, Barras Bridge, west end of Sandyford Road) will all be closed by 4:30pm. However, a call will be put out to all buses at approx 4:15pm, and all Stagecoach bus services will be diverted from 4:15pm, so as to ensure buses are not “trapped” by any early road closures in the city centre which may be necessitated by increased pedestrian activity.

The Blackett Street/ Pilgrim Street/ New Bridge Street junction will be closed between approximately 4:15pm – 5:45pm whilst the parade passes through this area, and the road is cleansed. During this specific period, buses will generally be diverted via Market Street, where possible.

Service 74 will divert via Gallowgate, Barrack Road, Ponteland Road A189 between A167 and Eldon Square in both directions.

Service Q3 will, after 4.20pm divert between Great North Road and Sandgate via A167 Central Motorway, Swan House roundabout and City Road in both directions. Any driver changeovers will be undertaken at Sandgate.